Canine wedding raises almost $7,000

JJ Abramson and Chumley Wachtel, both of the Toronto Reservoir in Bethel, were married Aug. 17 at the bride's home. Dr. Hal Teitelbaum, managing partner and CEO of Crystal Run Healthcare and also of Bethel, officiated.

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By Mary Esparra

recordonline.com

By Mary Esparra

Posted Sep. 5, 2013 at 2:00 AM

By Mary Esparra

Posted Sep. 5, 2013 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

JJ Abramson and Chumley Wachtel, both of the Toronto Reservoir in Bethel, were married Aug. 17 at the bride's home. Dr. Hal Teitelbaum, managing partner and CEO of Crystal Run Healthcare and also of Bethel, officiated.

JJ is a 4-year-old black Labrador retriever, and Chumley is a 1-year-old golden doodle. Charlie the Brittany spaniel served as best man, and cockapoo-mix Owen was groomsman. There were no female attendants.

The bride wore a white organza dress, and at times attempted to eat the fake hands holding her bouquet. Most of her nails were painted red for the occasion.

The groom wore a tuxedo collar and a purple skull cap.

At a reception following the ceremony, light snacks were served to human and canine guests; they included Chihuahuas, Labradors, a standard schnauzer and a couple of Shih Tzus. It was catered by the Fat Lady Café and the groom's parents. Music was supplied by Garrett and Josh Chaffee.

The bride and groom exchanged presents. She gave him fluffy blue towels, and he gave her a sparkled red rhinestone collar with a faux diamond (napkin) ring on the collar, brought to her by the best man.

After the ceremony, canine guests romped and swam in the reservoir.

The couple was not registered at Petco, but rather their invitation requested donations for the Sullivan County SPCA.

When Dr. Allan Abramson's wife, Carole, and their neighbor, Carolyn Wachtel, told him they wanted to hold a wedding for their dogs JJ and Chumley, Allan thought it would be a great opportunity to fundraise for the shelter.

Allan, chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, and his wife, Carole, have a second home in Bethel, where JJ plays with Carolyn and Hal Wachtel's dog, Chumley, every weekend.

When he heard that Jeff Bank, in celebration of its 100th year, was matching $100 donations to four select charities, including the SCSPCA, it lit the fundraising fire in him.

"The angel of this event is Sandy Atlas Bass of Kings Point," said Allan. "She herself is a very significant philanthropist for the North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System and numerous animal charities."

Bass and her son, Scott Ornstein, gave generous donations.

"The next thing I know, we have about 50 people at the wedding," said Allan, "and their dogs were invited, which scared me. But none of the dogs, to the amazement of the people who brought them, none of them growled or fought."

Humans also behaved accordingly, opening their checkbooks.

Sullivan County SPCA President Dana Hawk spoke at the wedding, and was ecstatic at the donation of almost $7,000 to date, including $1,300 from Jeff Bank.

"We have been deeply troubled by the lack of insulation in our indoor dog kennels and have been hoping to address this before the cold weather rolls in, and now because of them, we can. The main point he (Allan) wanted me to know was that 'it's people that make the difference,' and that is certainly very true in this situation. They changed the shelter forever with just one day."

And Allan's not done yet.

"People are still giving; I'm shaming some people," he said.

Once final estimates to insulate the shelter's dog kennels are in, he will continue to fundraise for the project.

As a surgeon, Allan often has to give bad news to his patients, and "it's always led me to give back," he said. "I get more joy out of helping others, and to see Dana's face when she started getting this amount of money was just terrific."

Donations for the Sullivan County SPCA's dog kennel insulation project can be sent to the shelter at 104 Rock Hill Road, Rock Hill 12775, or call 796-3120.